Ruling on working in a forbidden field out of necessity

Shaykh Abdul Aziz, I have noticed in some of the letters from our esteemed listeners that they place a great deal of responsibility on the two rak'ahs of istikhara, even if they proceed to do something that contains an element of prohibition. For example, our brother Sa'id Yusuf Mahmoud from Bisha, Sibt al-'Alaya, sent a long letter in which he says: I present to you the fact that I am an expatriate and left my family and homeland to seek a livelihood. I was working in a company, and after a period, the company asked me to find a sponsor for work with them and transfer my sponsorship, as they were going to liquidate the company. I sat for three months searching for another job but found none. Finally, after much effort, hardship, and difficulty, I obtained a job in a certain place. Before I applied for this job, I sought istikhara from Allah and prayed the two rak'ahs of istikhara. Before the sponsorship was transferred to this place, there were many obstacles, and I expected the sponsorship would not be transferred. However, things became easy in a way I did not expect, and the sponsorship was indeed transferred. After I started the job, people said that working in a place like yours is haram. Of course, I did not know this at all before. I am currently on leave from my job in my country, and from here, I cannot leave this job or transfer my sponsorship to another job due to reasons beyond my control, but because of the prevailing regulations. In fact, traveling back to my country is impossible. What is my position regarding this job, and what is your opinion on the two rak'ahs of istikhara? I only ask that you be kind enough to give me a clear answer. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance.
As for what follows: There is no doubt that the believer is tested in this world, sometimes with illness, sometimes with need and poverty, sometimes with the difficulty of works that help him earn his livelihood, and sometimes with other things.
The obligatory duty of the believer when facing trials is to endure, be patient, adhere to the truth, and be cautious of what Allah has forbidden. It is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: So, my brother, you must thank Allah for the blessings and ease He has made available, and you must patiently endure what displeases you, such as a lack of work, the difficulty of work, the difficulty of earning a livelihood, or anything else that causes a person distress. Patience and endurance are necessary.
As for your istikhara regarding a job whose matter was unclear to you—whether to do it or not—there is no harm in it. Istikhara is prescribed in matters that are ambiguous, such as when one wants to travel and is unsure whether the travel is beneficial or not, so he seeks istikhara. Or when he wants to marry a woman from such-and-such family, so he seeks istikhara to know if marrying her is suitable and good, or not. Or when he wants to deal with a person in trade, so he seeks istikhara to know if the deal is suitable or not. There is no harm in this.
This job for which you sought istikhara, if it was unclear to you and you did not know if it was suitable, and you sought from Allah, Glorified and Exalted, to expand your chest for what He is pleased with and to make this matter easy for you if it is lawful and permissible, then there is no harm in that. Then, if it becomes clear to you afterwards that the job is not good, there is no objection at that time to resigning and preferring what is with Allah. In fact, it is obligatory for you to do so, but after verifying, after consulting the people of knowledge, and after careful consideration. If it becomes clear to you through the evidence of the Shari'ah or through the fatwa of reputable scholars that this job is not permissible, such as working in banks dealing in riba, or working in the sale of intoxicants, the sale of tobacco, or shaving beards, or the like of what is haram, then if you know that the job is haram, leave the job, and Allah will give you something more blessed than it. Allah the Exalted says: and He will provide for him from where he does not expect. [Al-Talaq: 2-3]. He says, Exalted is He: [Al-Talaq: 4]. And it was reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: . And in another wording: . So if this job becomes clear to you through the evidence of the Shari'ah or through the fatwa of reputable scholars that it is a job that is not permissible, then you must resign from it and seek another job. Do not say: "I am unable to." It is not permissible for you to live from what is haram. Rather, you must seek what is halal, even if you ask people in times of dire necessity. Even if you ask people in times of dire necessity, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Qabisa ibn Mukhariq when he asked him: . And if you were not among the wealthy in the past, but rather you were among those in need in the past, and you are not among the wealthy, then you know yourself best. Asking for help is permissible for you for the sake of need and poverty, even if three people do not testify for you, as long as you know that you are among those in poverty and that you have nothing to sustain your condition. There is no objection to asking those of good and those you think will respond, either by giving you from zakah or from the wealth Allah has given them, until you find what suffices you. Do not be insistent, but ask only what covers the need. When you obtain what covers the need, refrain from asking until another time when you need it, while seeking work and striving to seek work and seeking provision through the means and ways you are able to do, from what Allah the Mighty and Majestic has permitted.
As for you, remaining in a haram job because you are poor, that is not permissible for you. May Allah guide them all. Yes.
The presenter: O Allah, amen. Your Eminence, if the job mixes halal with haram, what is the ruling in this case?
The Shaykh: Look into the matter. If he can limit himself to the halal and distinguish it from the haram, he should work with that. And if he cannot do so except by dealing with the haram along with the halal, then he must resign and stay away.
The presenter: The same ruling as before.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh: And beware of it.